Let Down: The Radiohead Song That Nearly Broke the Band Then Became a Hit 28 Years Later

In 2025, a Radiohead song nearly 3 decades old hit the charts. But here's the catch, back in 1997, Thom Yorke thought it "too pretty" to be on OK Computer, and it nearly tore the band apart. This is the story of "Let Down," how it defined OK Computer, how it almost ended Radiohead, and how it became their first chart hit since 2008 almost 3 decades after its original release. 👉 Subscribe for More Videos: https://youtube.com/c/AndyFenstermaker/?sub_confirmation=1 WATCH NEXT: ✓ The Meaning & History of Fake Plastic Trees: https://youtu.be/UjzAvjWhuCA ✓ Radiohead's Lost Decade: https://youtu.be/PB2MqxVuauY ✓ The Story of Kid A: https://youtu.be/zSLlfuatiQc 🎥 Radiohead on Poetic Wax: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLylroYWVYWWVUIWVFqMuPRxWfHae3_CBr Get OK Computer on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/4pFtzGN Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. CHAPTERS: 0:00 The Story of Radiohead's "Let Down" (1995-2025) 1:23 Born in the Bubble (1995–1996) 4:21 The Fight That Almost Ended the Band (1996–1997) 7:01 The Meaning Behind the Wings (1997–Present) 9:08 The Awakening (2025) SELECT REFERENCES: OK Computer: An Oral History (Rolling Stone) https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/radioheads-ok-computer-an-oral-history-196156/ The Radiohead Track That Almost Split The Band: https://www.musicradar.com/artists/bands/i-fought-tooth-and-nail-for-it-not-to-be-on-the-record-but-ed-was-like-if-its-not-im-leaving-radiohead-on-the-resurgent-ok-computer-track-that-almost-split-the-band Radiohead Press Photoshoots: http://radiox.ru/pics/mag/mag_e.html Early 4 Track Demo (and other recordings): https://citizeninsane.eu/music/okc/letdown.html Inside Radiohead Documentary (MTV, 1997) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nrb5ffQckM Radiohead - Let Down live at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, 1997 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlVqojKKFrg Radiohead - Paranoid Android (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHiGbolFFGw Radiohead - Let Down live Chile 2018 (Festival SUE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_lu6g5t6K8 The Bear - Season 1 Ending https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yx-xpqf-x8 Radiohead - Let Down (Bologna, Nov 14, 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UTVeb1V8Y8 #radiohead #thomyorke #jonnygreenwood #okcomputer #letdown #vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax #musicessay #musicstory #albumstory #musichistory #albumhistory #musicdocumentary